E350 4WD Camper Van Build
- Thread starter tommonta
- Start date
The box is made from 12mm okoume marine plywood with double layers to reinforce the hinge locations and around the inside lip of each box half. The strips around the lip are offset, one up and one down, for an overlapping fit when closed. There is a strip of fabric reinforced PVC screwed to the inside of the box along the hinge edge to help seal the forward end of the box. Contents stay dry even when driving in the pouring rain on the freeway. Hinge brackets are aluminum with steel pin and bronze bushing. 250lb gas springs assist opening and closing. Box is 81"x60"x12" (queen size bed mattress) build using West System epoxy and glass tape to reinforce all butt joints.
Tent and fly are made from super k-kote ripstop nylon and No-See-UM Mosquito Netting for windows and vents.
The tent is a little high on the van. I made it for my Toyota Tacoma DC and that is a much better height for setup and take down. My long term plan is to build a pop top for the van.
Tent and fly are made from super k-kote ripstop nylon and No-See-UM Mosquito Netting for windows and vents.
The tent is a little high on the van. I made it for my Toyota Tacoma DC and that is a much better height for setup and take down. My long term plan is to build a pop top for the van.
dcguillory
Adventurer
Awesome
http://seattle.craigslist.org/est/cto/4798530284.html
We are selling our van. I was just about to start on the interior build and we decided that we really want something bigger. I am going to be looking for something like a Chinook V10 and do another conversion once we get the van sold.
We are selling our van. I was just about to start on the interior build and we decided that we really want something bigger. I am going to be looking for something like a Chinook V10 and do another conversion once we get the van sold.
This Oakland is pretty nice too: http://www.expeditionportal.com/forum/threads/123707-Oakland-Bigfoot-20-Class-C-4x4/page4?highlight=chinook
Definitely want a fiberglass body.
Definitely want a fiberglass body.
DetroitDiesel
Adventurer
What was the fate of that rack that was on the top when you purchased? Im assuming its long gone. Is that a custom rack or are those mass produced? What is its intended use maybe I can search by that? Thank you and good luck on the new project.
DetroitDiesel
Adventurer
I sold the rack a while back. The rack was custom and it weighed about 8,000 poundsIt also had too much clearance to the roof, it was about 6 inches higher than necessary.
Good info. So it would not be worth its weight. How top heavy does that tent make it feel? I know you are selling so it must have had its downsides. I am a man and his dogs and you have a family so is it just that. You need to accommodate too many variables? So you need more size space and room to build up? I dont want to start a project and then realize I need to sell. Im noticing a lot of time and money goes into these rigs then they are in the for sale thread. Thanks
The rack was fine for driving, it was just a pain to take it off and I didn't have a good place to do it at home. The roof tent weighs about 160 pounds and I can tell a little difference with the wind, but not much on the weight.
The van is great in the summer with four people and two dogs, but my kids are in high school so by the time I really get an interior build done we will probably be two people and two dogs. For bad weather/winter we have decided that we want something bigger.
The van is great in the summer with four people and two dogs, but my kids are in high school so by the time I really get an interior build done we will probably be two people and two dogs. For bad weather/winter we have decided that we want something bigger.
Just an FYI on the Oakland bigfoot. There were very few made. If you think that is what you want I believe GNTY may be willing to part with his non-4x4 one. Yes, he has a second one which is only the second one I have ever seen on the inter-webs. My guess is there are a couple more roaming around Canada but if I recall correctly there were only something on the order of 10 made and some of those went to Japan.